Cylindrical lock



Oct. l2, 1965 F. E. BEST CYLINDRICAL LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1961 nil llilll Jil... nl--..1

Ilulnrdalld... O

vl||||i||||||||||| BV @wia ATTORNEY F. E. BEST 3,210,975

CYLINDRICAL LOCK Oct. 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DGO. 13. 1951 94M lo 98 59 52 68 s? 23 29 7| I 5l 5565 22 |54 72 INVENTOR FRANK ELusoN BEST FlGxl-B BY; am Z ATTORNEY Oct. l2, 1965 F. E. BEST CYLINDRICAL LOCK Filed Dec. 13. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 nited States Patent O 3,210,976 CYLINDRICAL LOCK Frank Ellison Best, P O. Box 103, Indianapolis, Ind. Filed Dec. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 159,066 17 Claims. (Cl. 70-451) My invention comprises improvements in cylindrical locks.

A primary purpose of my invention is to make improvements in the method and means of mounting the knobs or handle means to the chassis of the lock frame, and to provide a more rigid, positive, and friction-free mountmg. Another object is to mount the said knobs on bearings located outside of the knob neck, outside of the chassis frame and underneath the roses or escutcheons so as to leave ample space within the knobs and between the side plates of the chassis for more rugged internal mechanisms of the lock than now obtains.

Another object is -to do away with all externally showing spanner and screw holes and unsightly notches, etc., in order to beautify its external appearance.

Another object is to make it necessary to remove the lock core from the knob or handle by use of a control key before the lock can be assembled on or dissembled from the door.

Another object is to simplify its structure and. reduce the number of units and parts in said lock.

Another object is to reduce the carpenters time and effort in mounting the lock on the door.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will become apparent to those making a study of my invention of which a preferred structural embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Views FIG. 1 is an axial section of a knob set embodying my invention.

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary View in axial section, on a larger scale than FIG. 1, showing the left half or inside knob assembly of said knob set.

FIG. 1B is a fragmentary view in axial section, on a larger scale than FIG. 1, showing the right half or outside knob assembly of the knob set shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2 to 10 inclusive are transverse sections of said knob set as taken on lines 2-2 to lines 10-10 respectively of FIG. 1.

Description This new preferred illustrative embodiment of my invention comprises stator frame plates 11 and 12 clampable to a door 13 through a hole 14 therethrough by means of internally threaded studs 15 headed into plate 12 at 16, and clamp screws 17, screwed through plate 11 and into studs 15, thus completing the chassis 128 of said cylindrical lock.

Outside knob assembly 70 Staked at 18 to plate 12 is external bearing race member 19 enfolding and clamping external race member 20 between said plate 12 and said race member 19. Inner race member 21, balls 22 and cage 23 complete the ball bearing mounting of the knob 29 which is screwed tightly to race member 21. Race member 21 has a holding hole 24 alignable with hole 25 in plate 12, through which an instrument such as a nail set can be inserted to hold said race member 21 from rotation while the knob 29 is being iirmly screwed to said race member 21 or unscrewed therefrom. It is intended to prepare the mating threads 134 and 135 on race member 21 and knob 29 respectively with great care, craftsmanship, and precision so that the screwing of the knob 29 into race member 21 tightly by 3,210,976 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 ice hand will constitute all the securing the union of these parts will require, against any shaking or vibration of the knob that will develop during the life of the lock.

Finished escutcheon 26 compressed securely on to plate 12 at 27 completes the housing of the bearing as a whole referred to as bearing 28, which is thus completed before the finished knob is lastly assembled to complete the outside knob assembly 70.

Nested within the outer end of knob 29 in recess 30 is the face plate 31 of my novel lock core referred to in its entirety as core 32.

This core is of the type referred to as lock controlled assembly and dates back over 40 years to my basic invention thereof, Patent No. 1,384,022, issued July 5, 19,21, in which the assembly of the lock core into its housing and removal therefrom is lock and key controlled.

It consists of annular end plates 33 and 34 to which body 35 is staked at 36 and 37 respectively. Finished face plate 31 is crimped around end plate 34 at 71.

Inwardly from body 35 is annular sleeve 38 and central of sleeve 38 is key plug 39.

Separating annular end plate 34 and head 130 of key plug 39 is inwardly protruding annular extension 40 of face plate 31.

Drilled through body 35, sleeve 38, and into key plug 39 are a number of tumbler holes 41 for the accommodation of tumbler pins 42, springs 43, and caps 44 shown in one said hole 41 only, although it is to be understood that all pin tumbler holes 41 are to be combinated.

Key stop 54 staked to the end of key plug 39 at 55 acts also as a retaining plate to hold the key plug 39 in place. Throw pins 56 integral with sleeve 52 are adapted to slide lengthwise in holes 57 in key plug 39 and key stop 54. They also act to tie the said key plug 39, key stop 54, and sleeve 52 as one unit rotatively, so that the rotation of the key plug 39 will also rotate sleeve 52, while permitting throw pins 56 to slide freely longitudinally.

As an operating key 45, notched to match the combination of the tumbler pins 42 is positioned in key way 46; a break 47 between pins 42 is brought into alignment with the operating shear line 48 of the lock core and the key plug is thus released for operation either way, limited only by the lazy motion provided, as shown in FIG. 8 by stamping 137 in slot 50 of sleeve 52 plus spindle rotation required to thus unlatch the door with said key 45 by means not illustrated, in the area of 87.

Pin 49 is a forced fit in stamping 137 and spindle 51 and secures stamping 137 in rigid position in said spindle 51, best seen in FIG. 8. However stamping 137 is free lioating in slot 50 so that the said spindle 51 can be freely turned by knob 92 or other means not illustrated, in the area of 87, not shown, far enough to take up the lazy motion of the stamping 137 in said slot 50 in either direction, and thus unlatch the door by said means not illustrated, in the area of 87 even when said key 45 is removed from the lock core 32, in spite of the fact that the removal of said key 45 leaves the key plug 39 locked against independent rotative motion in lock core 32 by the tumbler pins 42 crossing and thus locking shear line 48 under pressure of tumbler springs 43 and also in spite of the fact that the manual pushing of push button 96 locks knob 29 against rotation by pushing prongs 80 of ring 79 into notches 77 in ilange 59 of said knob 29, best seen in FIG. 7. Also see FIG. 6.

The inwardly extending flange 59 of knob 29 also has a plurality o f holes 60 through which extension 61 of cylinder 62 may extend, FIG. 7, and be secured as by staking at 63, FIG. 1.

Cylinder 62 has an inwardly extending ange 64, FIGS. 1 and 9, with holes 136, adapted to admit the insertion of at least one hook shaped sleeve extension 66, which is rigid with the sleeve 38 of lock core 32, and then, upon rotation of the sleeve 38 and its extension 66, 15 degrees counter clockwise relative to said cylinder 62 as viewed in said FIG. 9, engage lugs 65 of said sleeve extension 66 with the llange 64 to thus retain the said core 32, FIG. l, in the said knob 29. The cylinder 62, FIG. 1, also has a plurality of prongs 67, FIG. l0, which lit in holes 68 in plate 33 to prevent said core 32 from rotating within the knob 29.

Between body 35 and sleeve 38, FIG. l, lies control shear line 69.

When a control key is inserted in the lock combinated to the same number as the con-trol shear line 69 of the core 32, the sleeve 38 is free to turn rotatively 15 degrees clockwise as viewed kin FIG. 9 and lugs 65 are free to move rotatively to thus unlock the core 32 from flange 64 so that the core 32, FIG. 1, can be pulled out of the knob 29, lengthwise.

Between sleeve 52 and cylinder 62, FIG. l, is a stepped ring 72 and spring 73.

Secured to spindle 51 by pin 74 is ring 75, FIG. l, having two prongs 76, FIG. 7, that t into two or four notches 77 in flange 59 of knob 29.

The spindle 51 is square to the left of line 78 as viewed in FIG. 1 and round to the right of said line 78 as viewed in said FIG. 1.

Trapped between line 78 and ring 75 is ring 79, free floating on spindle 51 but locked against rotation by two prongs 80 thereof mating with notches 81 in frame plate 12.

Into spindle 51 is screwed door thickness adjusting screw 82 having a square head 83.

In factory assembling spindle 51, with screw 82, sleeve 52, rings 75 and 79 attached thereto, into plate 12 with knob assembly 70 attached thereto, irst put spring 73 in position and then slip prongs 76 and 80 into notches 81 and 77, far enough to permit turning the knob assembly 70 rotatively 90 degrees either way from their position as shown in FIG. 1. Then ease off and let spring 73 seat prongs 76 in shallow recesses 86, FIG. 6.

Thus is factory-assembled the outside unit of the lock designated -unit 58.

In the field, before assembling unit 58 to the door, lay the spindle 51 crosswise of the door at its edge and turn square-headed door thickness adjusting screw 82 to precisely measure the thickness of the door between head 83 and 84 and the end of the spindle 51 at 85. This is the only door thickness adjustment necessary.

Elements in the area of 87 Elements in the area of 87, as a whole, to be disposed along spindle 51 between plates 11 and 12 constitute subject matter for a separate application serial number for Letters Patent Serial No. 334,343 and are deemed not to be pertinent to this application. Said other application will make suitable reference to this application and clearly describe and identify said elements. I am herein showing and claiming a knob set and spindle means and not elements in the area of 87 that lie between plates 11 and 12 and ride spindle 51 and studs 15.

Inside knob assembly 91 lClamp plate 11 and secondary plate 88, FIG. 1, have mating threads 89 and 90 respectively by means of which the inside knob assembly 91 of the said knob set is screwed onto inside clamp plate 11, in the assembly of this unit to the door.

Enfolding secondary plate 88 is an escutcheon 26 and nested beneath said escutcheon 26 are bearing members 19, 20, 21, and 22 previously described.

Race member 19 is staked to secondary plate 88 at 18.

Screwed securely to inner race member 21 is knob 92, while inner race member 21 is being held against rotation by some instrument such as a nail set inserted through holes 24 in secondary plate 88 into hole 25 of said inner race member 21.

Inner knob 92 has a hole 93 and a short inwardly extending sleeve 94 integral therewith having slots 95, said hole 93 accommodating push button 96, and said slots 95 accommodating tabs 97 extending out of the end 98 of cylinder 99 encircling push button 96 and rollup 100. Roll-up 100 is a short cylindrical tube having on its inner end two prongs 107, FIG. 3, which extend through slotted holes 106 in an inturned end portion 105 of the cylinder 99. Its function is to move a cylindrical member 119 inwardly so that a lug 123 will be clear of a slot 126, as hereinafter explained, when lock core 32 is removed from its knob 29 and a push button 110 is depressed to its maximum position and held in that position during assembly and disassembly of the lock.

Tabs 97 and sleeve 94 form-fit around wire lock ring 101, securing knob 92 to cylinder 99,

Cap screw 103 screwed tightly in push button 96 travels in slot 104 in cylinder 99 to guide and limit the travel of push button 96.

Cylinder 99 has an inwardly stepped cylindrical end 105 with slotted holes 106 for the axially moving prongs 107 of roll-up 100, FIG. 3.

A thin metal tube of square cross section which can be made by a bending process and is herein termed a square fold-up 108 aligns screw head 83, FIG. 1, nonrotatively with respect to spindle 51 while spring `109 holds said fold-up 108 tightly against said push button 96 at 110.

Fold-up 108 is made of spring material and has a formed spring member 111 integral therewith which engages, when push button 96 is depressed, with one of four spring dogs 112 of cylindrical roll-up 113 in the form of a rolled tube of thin metal having one end thereof staked to frame plate 11 at 114.

Notice that square fold-up 108 has a portion 138, FIGS. 1 and 4, cut away to allow freedom of action of spring dog 112 when spindle 51 is rotated, and engagement of spring member 111 with spring dog 112 is broken.

Also staked to frame plate 11 at 115 is a cylindrical member 116 having inwardly extending tabs 117 that register with and extend into mating slots 118 of cylindrical member 119.

The part of cylindrical member 119, shown at the left in FIGS. 1 and 1A, fits snugly around the tubular member 113 and abuts against the ends of prongs 107 of roll-up 100. The part of said cylindrical member 119 shown at the right is of enlarged diameter and has the longitudinally extending slots 118 provided in it, see also FIG. 4. Enlarging the diameter of this part of member 119 makes it possible to leave the slots 118 open at the left end, as indicated at 124, FIGS. l and 1A, and also provides room between this enlarged part of said member 119 and the member 113 for a compression spring 120. One end of spring 120 abuts against frame plate 11 and the other end thereof abuts against an internal shoulder of the cylindrical member 119 and yieldingly holds said member 119 tight up against the ends of the prongs 107 of roll-up 100.

Another cylindrical member 121 staked to secondary plate 88 at 122 also has inwardly extending tabs 123 which also register with and extending into mating slots 118 of cylindrical member 119. Since member 116 is secured to frame plate 11 and member 119 is secured to secondary plate 88 and since tabs 123 and 117 are all in the same slots 118 of cylindrical member 119 it is obvious that frame plate 11 and secondary plate 88 are locked together against independent rotation and since frame plate 11 is a stator plate, both said plates are, by the afore-described intermeshing of parts, thus made stator plates also, and knob assembly 91 cannot be removed from the door until tabs 123 are moved out of engagement with slots 118 by pushing push button 96 to its extreme position at which cap screw 103 contacts end of slot 104 at surface 125 of cylinder 99, when end 124 of slot 1 18 will pass through and will clear tabs 123.

But push button 96 cannot move that far so long as lock core 32 is in the lock and thus it becomes necessary to remove core 32 with the control key before the push button 96 can move far enough so that tabs 123 clear ends 124 of slots 118 and then the inside knob assembly 91 can be removed from or assembled upon frame plate 11 by screwing plate 88 olf or on to frame plate 11 respectively using escutcheon 26 of secondary plate 88 as a turning means, as a valve is turned.

The mating threads 89 and 90 are of such precision, and the looseness of t of said tabs 123 in slots 118 are of sufficiently ample width so that when the mating threads 89 and 90 are screwed tightly together as will be accomplished in field assembly, tabs 123 cannot reach the walls 126 of slots 118, and thus said tabs 123 will ride freely in said slots 118.

Thus so long as the core 32 is in the knob 29, neither outside unit 58 nor inside unit 91 can be removed from the door 13.

This will most effectively put an end to unauthorized disassembly of lock from the doors in colleges, dormitories, institutions, and the like that up to this time has so plagued the authorities.

It is recommended that cage 23 be provided with twelve equally spaced ball holes 131 so that 12, 6, 4, or 3 evenly spaced balls 22 may be selectively used as may be required in any particular cylinder lock. When the thickness of the door is equal to the adjusted distance from 84 to 85 as previously explained and plate 88 is screwed down tight to plate 11, spring 73 will be slightly but suiciently compressed to release prongs 76 out of notches 86, FIG. 6, for free spindle rotation, as is required for operation of the lock.

Mounting of lock on door The following procedure is recommended in mounting the lock to the door:

Mount the door to its frame on its permanent hinges.

Prepare the openings in the door 13 including hole 14 to receive the lock parts.

Adjust the screw 82 in spindle 51 as previously explained to measure the exact thickness of the door.

Now with the door part way open and a wedge between door and floor to thus x the door rmly, place elements to occupy the area 87 in position.

Next, push outside knob assembly 70 through hole 14 of the door and elements to occupy the area 87 and while holding plate 12 tight against the side of the door in assembled position, slip bayonet holes 132 of plate 11, FIG. 5, over screws 17 and rotate said plate 11 to bring said plate 11 into its permanent position as shown FIG. 5, and then tighten clamp screws 17 to thus Secure the lock chassis to the door.

Next remove the core from the outside knob and then push the push button ofthe inside knob to its lowest position and hold it thus as the inside knob is mounted into its near-permanent place and hold it thus while the escutcheon 26 attached to plate 88 is being screwed down into permanent position on frame 11, as shown FIG. l.

Next place the core again in outside knob 29 and the mounting of said lock to said door is complete.

Operation of the lock Pushing the push button 96 in inside knob 92 causes locking engagement between spring member 111 and spring dog 112. It also causes prongs 80 to engage notches 77 to lock the outside knob 29 against rotation.

Turning the spindle by turning the inside knob or by key in lock core 32 or otherwise will release spring member 111 from its engagement with spring dog 112, and spring 109 will return the push button to its original position as shown in FIG. l.

6 If the inside door knob is left with push button depressed, an operating key in the outside core can turn the spindle and unlatch spring member 111 from its engagement with spring dog 112 and thus unlock the door.

Claims Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. In a knob set for application to a door, a frame plate; means rigidly securing said frame plate to the door; a two piece outer bearing race having one part of larger diameter rigidly secured to the outer side of said frame plate and another part of smaller diameter adapted to be trapped between said part of larger diameter and said frame plate; a knob positioned perpendicularly to said frame plate, said knob having an externally threaded knob neck which extends coaxially into said outer bearing race when the knob and frame plate are in assembled rela-V tion; an internally threaded inner bearing race threaded onto the exterior of and rigid with the inner end portion of said knob neck; and close fitting radial and thrust type rolling contact bearing members disposed between said outer and inner bearing races, providing a long wearing, low friction, firm and wabble free mounting for said knob.

2. The knob mounting means as claimed in claim 1 in which the rolling contact bearing members are balls; and in which a thin flat ball cage is disposed between said outer and inner bearing races supporting said balls in spaced apart relation.

3. In a cylindrical lock for application to a door, an outer frame plate; an inner frame plate; means rigidly securing said two frame plates to a door; an outer knob rotatively supported by said outer frame plate, said outer knob having a lock receiving recess in its outer end; a secondary plate, said inner frame plate and said secondary plate having intertting threaded parts whereby said secondary plate can be attached to said inner frame plate; an inner knob rotatively supported by said sec. ondary plate; push button means carried by said inner knob; longitudinally movable spindle means connected with said push button means and extending between said two knobs; devices normally locking said secondary plate against rotative movement relative to said inner frame plate, said devices being releasable by movement of said spindle means toward said outer knob; and a key operated lock normally seated in and capable of being removably locked within the lock receiving recess in said outer knob, said lock when seated in said recess limiting longitudinal movement of said spindle means and thereby preventing the release of said secondary plate from said inner frame plate.

4. In a cylindrical knob set, the combination of elements comprising an outside knob assembly means, and inside frame means, clamp means adapted to the clamping of said means together and to a door, an inside knob assembly means, adapted to be releasably secured to said inside frame means, and lock controlled means including a key operated lock in said outside knob assembly means adapted to the locking and unlocking of said inside knob assembly means to and from said inside frame means respectively, all of said means collectively constituting lock controlled assembly means in which the assembly and disassembly of said cylindrical knob set onto and from a door respectively is lock controlled.

5. In a cylindrical lock, the combination of elements comprising frame means capable of being applied to a door, outer and inner handle means connected with the frame means at the respective outer and inner sides of the door, movable spindle means extending between said two handle means, assembly devices locking said frame and handle means in assembled relation with the door, said devices being releasable by movement of said spindle means, push button means in the handle means at the inner side of the door capable of moving said spindle means in releasing said assembly devices, and key operated lock means in the handle means at the outer side of the door controlling movement of said spindle means in preventing release of said assembly locking devices, all of said parts being cooperative in the formation of lockcontrolled assembly means in which the assembly and disassembly of the said lock onto and from a door respectively is lock controlled.

6. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim in which said frame means comprises an inner frame plate and an outer frame plate, clamping means adapted to the clamping of said frame plates to each other and to a door, and secondary plate means securable to said inner frame plate.

7. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 6 in which the lock means carried by the outer handle means controls the locking and releasing of said secondary plate means relative to said inner plate means.

8. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 6 in which the key operated lock means carried by the outer handle means includes means operable by a control key controlling the locking and releasing of said secondary plate means and controlling the insertion and removal of said lock means into and from said handle means at the outer side of the door.

9. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 6 in which the lock means carried by the outer handle means includes means operable by a control key controlling both the locking and releasing of said secondary plate means relative to said inner plate means and the insertion and removal of said lock means relative to said outer handle means and in which said lock means also includes devices capable of holding said button means captive and means actuated by an operating key adapted to the rotation of said spindle means in the release of said button means.

10. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 5 in which said handle means comprises an outside handle and an outside handle neck and an inside handle and an inside handle neck and in which two bearings are provided respectively connecting said handle necks with the frame means, said outside handle having lock means and said inside handle having button means, said necks joining said handles to said respective bearing means in rotative assembly.

11. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 10 in which said handle necks have primary mating means and said bearings have secondary mating means adapted to receive the primary mating means on said necks in uniting said handles to said bearings.

12. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 10 in which said outside handle includes a lock core housing having a lock core receptacle therein adapted to the reception and removal of a key-insertable and key-removable lock core.

13. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 10 in which there is provided escutcheon means constituting an ornamental covering of said bearing means, secured to said frame means and surrounding without engaging the adjacent handle neck.

14. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 5 in which the lock means comprises a core housing, a core, and operating and control keys, said core housing being formed and nested in said handle means and said lock core being insertable and lockable in said core housing Cil and unlockable and removable therefrom by means of the control key, said operating key being adapted to the turning of said spindle means.

15. In a cylindrical lock the combination of elements comprising outer and inner frame means capable of being applied to a door, outer and inner knob means, bearing means mounting said outer and inner knob means on said outer and inner frame means respectively, and outer and inner escutcheon means carried by the outer and inner frame means respectively and covering said bearing means, said frame means and bearing means and escutcheon means providing a structure capable of assembly by first, the joining of said frame means and bearing means followed by the assembly of said escutcheon means to said frame means and lastly by the securing of said knob means to said bearing means.

16. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 15 in which the inner frame means is a plate, a secondary plate is secured to said inner frame plate, and lock and key means is provided controlling the locking and releasing, respectively, of said secondary plate to and from the said inner plate.

17. A cylindrical lock as claimed in claim 15 in which said knob means includes a knob having a lock core hous ing in the outer end thereof adapted to receive a key# insertable and key-removable lock core, said lock core comprising two locks in one, the irst of which is an oper-v ating lock responding to its own operating key and adapted to the turning of a lock spindle, and the second of which is a control lock responding to its own control key and adapted to the insertion and removal of the said lock core into and from, respectively, said lock core housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,123 7/ 99 Davis 292-356 843,047 2/07 Voight 292-3 56 1,025,850 5/12 Young. 1,784,208 12/ 30 Teich. 2,627,436 2/ 5 3 Cerf. 3,017,762 1/62 Kubik.

' FOREIGN PATENTS '7 37,263 7/ 43 Germany.

14,922 10/ 15 Great Britain.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. 

4. IN A CYLINDRICAL KNOB SET, THE COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS COMPRISING AN OUTSIDE KNOB ASSEMBLY MEANS, AND INSIDE FRAME MEANS, CLAMP MEANS ADAPTED TO THE CLAMPING OF SAID MEANS TOGETHER AND TO A DOOR, AN INSIDE KNOB ASSEMBLY MEANS, ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY SECURED TO SAID INSIDE FRAME MEANS, AND LOCK CONTROLLED MEANS INCLUDING A KEY OPERATED LOCK IN SAID OUSIDE KNOB ASSEMBLY MEANS ADAPTED TO THE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF SAID INSIDE KNOB ASSEMBLY MEANS TO AND FROM SAID INSIDE FRAME MEANS RESPECTIVELY, ALL OF SAID MEANS COLLECTIVELY CONSTITUTING LOCK CONTROLLED ASSEMBLY MEANS IN WHICH THE ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY OF SAID CYLINDRICAL KNOB SET ONTO AND FROM A DOOR RESPECTIVELY IS LOCK CONTROLLED. 